Odyne Systems, which makes hybrid systems for large trucks, will be able to deploy more than 120 plug-in hybrid work trucks for municipalities and utilities, thanks to a $45.4 million U.S. Department of Energy award.

The contract granted to Odyne by the Electric Power Research Institute directs funding from DOE’s Transportation Electrification initiative, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) of California and other parties in a cost-share arrangement with users toward the development and supply of advanced plug-in hybrid and Smart Grid / Smart Charging technology for trucks over 14,000 pounds.

More than 120 Odyne advanced plug-in hybrid systems will be installed on work trucks for partners in the program, including investor-owned utilities and municipal electric companies.

Johnson Controls will supply the Lithium-ion batteries to power the trucks, made at its advanced manufacturing facility in Holland, Mich.